The Olympic Games

MSN Encarta Encyclopedia provides a basic definition of the Olympic Games. You’ll learn how different countries and athletes become involved in both the summer and winter ceremonies, as well as how the event has been affected by political turmoil and racial tension. Recent developments are also included in this clearly written chapter.

Olympic.org is the official site of the Olympic Movement, which gathers followers of the Olympic Charter who recognize the International Olympic Committee. You’ll learn about the movement’s mission and purpose and be introduced to the structure of each international committee and organization involved. Visuals, such as interactive charts, aid the explanation.

The United States Olympic Committee explains how various organizations, international federations, and national governing bodies help oversee the Games. Especially of note is the role of the International Olympic Committee, which sets the schedule for Winter and Summer Games and determines which sports to omit or include.

Olympic.org provides an interactive timeline of every Olympics since 1896. Browse photos of the medalists, read highlights of the competition, and learn who presided over the opening ceremonies and torch lightings. For modern Games, including Torino 2006, you can take a virtual tour of the Olympic Village.

The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland teaches visitors about the "sport, art and culture" of the modern games. Pictures and descriptions of many exhibits are available online and a virtual tour is available for those who are planning on visiting the museum. There is also a PDF document, “The Modern Olympic Games,” that tell what makes the competition and cermonies unique and how the Games have developed since Athens 1896.

Perseus Digital Library is maintained by Tufts University. In “A Tour of Ancient Olympia,” created in preparation for the 1996 Games in Atlanta photos of ancient vase paintings accompany intriguing sections. “Sports,” for example, details ancient Olympic events such as chariot races; “The Context of the Games & the Olympic Spirit” spotlights political influence in the earliest Games and discusses whether athletes were considered amateur or professional.

Scholastic outlines how the Olympics have changed: ancient Greeks used the event to honor gods, but today, the emphasis is on athletics, and the Games are highly influenced by politics, performance-enhancing drugs, and commercialism. Content is geared to elementary-school classrooms and, while informal, is helpfully straightforward and thorough.

Archaeology.org is a publication of the Archaeological Institute of America. The author of this article, a Classics professor at the University of Florida, tackles the subject of Olympic Games’ myths, including the idea that competing athletes must be amateurs. Other topics include the origin of the five-ring symbol and the lighting of the Olympic torch.

The University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology presents what it deems “the real story of the Ancient Olympic Games.” In it, the museum questions whether we’ve upheld the Olympic ideal in a series of sections dealing with athletes, politics, sexism, and commercialism.

Olympic.org privides articles and archives about sporting events as well as press releases and live results. The Olympic Review, an IOC publication, is also available for download. You can access the IOC and international sports calendars as well.

Beijing 2008 provides news specific to next summer’s Games. News is divided into categories, including Olympic Dynamics, which features articles charting Beijing’s progress and transformation leading up to the big event. You’ll also find official press releases, sports news, and happenings in the Olympic cities, Beijing and Hong Kong.

The United States Olympic Team’s official site offers plenty of news and information. Scroll down on the homepage for “U.S. Olympic Team News,” where topics include scientific studies, competition results, and general updates. You can also sign up to receive the free eNewsletter.

NBC Olympics is maintained by NBC, the exclusive American broadcast network of the Olympics. Look for headline news and individual sport updates in addition to expert commentary and analysis, photos and videos. You’ll also find featured blogs, which often comment on current news items. Some articles may require a free online subscription to the Chicago Tribune, which you can register for easily by following prompts. Articles are also provided by ESPN and the Associated Press, among other sources not requiring subscriptions.

ESPN.com maintains an Olympic Sports section. You’ll find in-depth features and analysis from top sports journalists, as well as video clips and photos. You can also click on individual sports at the top of the page to peruse updated news wire reports from Reuters and the Associated Press.

SportsIllustrated.com provides links to Associated Press articles related to the Olympics. News stories, organized by date, cover a range of subjects. Look for features about current events in Beijing, such as environmental concerns, as well as articles discussing sporting event results.

USA Today presents an Olympics section as part of its general sports coverage. Clean and sparse-looking at first glance, this site actually offers a great deal of news and analysis in its Associated Press articles. It covers a broad range of sports, rather than focusing only on the most mainstream events. Watch out for the pop-up advertisements, though.

The New York Times provides an archive of both broad and specific articles related to the Olympic Games.

GamesBids.com provides news and information about the business of Olympic bidding. You’ll learn how cities vie to host the Games, the process behind the decision, and the issues affecting bidding. Occasional feature articles supplement daily and archived news reports. Be aware that there are many pop-up ads floating around here.

Around the Rings is an independent source for Olympic Movement news and information. To access the site’s varied features, including a weekly newsletter and an Olympic Bid Power Index (which appraises cities contending to host the Games), you’ll need to purchase a subscription.

NBC Sports provides an Olympics “Community” of blogs written by the Network’s analysts and by Olympic athletes and fans. You’ll also find groups devoted to different sports, and you can create your own fan group.

Beijing Olympic Games 2008 is a blog with summaries of news stories related to the upcoming Olympics. Links to sources are provided, so you can read full articles. The list on the right sidebar has older, categorized posts for your convenience.

Time magazine presents a China Blog, which features in-depth commentary about current events in China. This blog, maintained by five experienced Time reporters based in China, is not Olympic-related, but it will occasionally reference news about the event. Regardless, you’ll learn more about this intriguing host country.

Beijing Visitor Blog features useful advice and anecdotes for would-be travelers to the Olympic city and capital of China. You’ll find pleasant photography and postings on various topics, including hotel and hostel recommendations, up-and-coming restaurants, and intriguing descriptions of parks and neighborhoods in the city.

ESPN.com provides message boards for fans. You can read past posts, including angry reactions to various bids and advice from coaches to young athletes. Post your own comments and questions after registering as a member of the site.

GamesBids , although strewn with annoying pop-up ads, has an extensive forum section. After you register, you’ll have access to all of the discussions, which center around various countries’ Olympic bids.

Beijing 2008 , the official Beijing 2008 site, posts ticket announcements and news about sales, including a chart showing prices for different events at a glance. You can link to the official ticketing Web site from a link on the bottom right, but this is only applicable to residents of China.

CoSport , an official sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team, offers various packages for fans. Although live ticket sales have already begun, you can e-mail the company at tickets@cosport.com to learn about different options, such as packages including tickets and accommodation or meals and ground transport.

Roadtrips specializes in sports travel; it offers several packages to the Beijing Olympics in 2008. You can purchase tickets to any event, including the opening and closing ceremonies, along with luxury hotel accommodation, transportation to and from events, and a guided tour of the city.

Western States Ticket Sales offers tickets to Olympic competitions for most sports. You can browse for tickets here, but to purchase, you’ll have to order tickets over the phone.

The official site of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games offers a multimedia manual for potential volunteers. In addition to recruitment videos, you’ll find a helpful section covering “Volunteer Positions and Requirements,” which outlines the possibilities, including working as a social volunteer promoting the Olympic spirit in Beijing communities and villages.

Beijing International helps foreigners apply for volunteer roles in the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Read about general policies, such as training and work schedules, and consult the application guide. Click “Signing Up” to fill out and submit your application online.

Lenovo , a worldwide computing partner of the Beijing Olympic Games, is organizing the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay in China. Watch videos, read personal essays, and help decide which three individuals should run the torch.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers material about disease risks (such as for traveler's diarrhea and breathing problems), preparing for your trip (such as packing a health kit) and staying healthy. It also includes links to information for athletes traveling to China for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.